Teremoana Jnr following in Jai Opetaia’s footsteps as returning hero

The Australian heavyweight Teremoana Jnr is relishing fighting in his home country for the first time in over two years after returning as one of their Olympic heroes.

Wednesday’s promotion, led by Jai Opetaia-David Nyika at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Queensland, has been billed as “Return of the Champion” in Opetaia’s name, and what represents the IBF cruiserweight champion’s first fight in Australia since July 2022.

It is regardless also Teremoana Jnr’s first since that September – since when, as a then 4-0 professional, he established himself as so entertaining a fighter as he did at Paris 2024 when testing the eventual super-heavyweight champion Bakhodir Jalolov of Uzbekistan in a narrow defeat.

The 26-year-old’s belief that he won was shared by many of his compatriots, contributing to him agreeing on co-promotional terms with Matchroom – he was already working with Tasman Fighters – and fighting and winning in Monte Carlo, Monaco in December.

His inclusion, alongside that of fellow Australian heavyweight Justis Huni, after being matched with Germany’s Osasu Otobo also means that he is fighting close to Brisbane, the city he calls home, and has heightened the interest in Opetaia-Nyika and presented him with another platform on which his reputation can be enhanced.

There exist plans for him to fight, potentially, as many as eight further times around the world in 2025, but he told BoxingScene: “It’s so great to be fighting back in Australia, because for the past two years I’ve been fighting overseas, without that home crowd; without my family, friends and supporters, and to be doing so on such an amazing event like this… what better way to come back to Australia? 

“I’ve been building a following during the past two years. I’m excited to see what the turn out’s going to be.

“Now, when I’m walking through the streets, some people will say, ‘Good day’, and say, ‘Good on you – I thought you won that fight [at the Olympics]’. That’s usually the main thing they say. It’s just amazing to see that what I’ve been doing has had an influence on others. I’m just glad to be a good role model, to be honest. I never would have thought I’d be doing this. This just kind of came along, and I’m a good fighter, so why not use my ability?

“I’m just being me, and embracing the whole moment. I want to enjoy it. Why do you have to be so serious? I don’t understand that – but whatever floats your boat and gets you going… do what you gotta do.

“It’s just another day at the office, to be honest. You only have to worry about all this just seconds before the fight – what you need to worry about is when the bell goes.

“It’s a lot different. Before, it was a smaller crowd – of people that used to know me. Now it’s a bit more of the general public – usually the boxing crowd. But it’s cool. I’m not too much of a fan of being recognized, but it’s good for the career – it’s a blessing. That’s all I can say.

“The timing of this event, and even me coming back to the pros, is perfect timing. We’re at a point where, a lot of the fighters in Australia, we’ve all done our apprenticeships through the amateurs, and it’s kind of showing on the world stage. The difference between other countries is we don’t have that international competition like they do. They’ve just got to go that half-an-hour drive and then that next country, where we’ve got a 14-hour flight, and it’s just a bit hard for us. But in saying that, for us being so isolated – our skill level is up there with the best, so you’ve got to give us all credit, and we’re starting to prove that now too.”

The 23-year-old Otobo is an 11-1 professional, but has never previously fought outside of Germany.

“I never thought I’d be boxing for a career,” Teremoana Jnr continued. “I never enjoyed it when I was a young fella; now I’ve got a desire for it. I want to prove something – through becoming world champion, I’ll prove it.

“I didn’t like boxing when I was younger. I stopped boxing at the age of 19, and then when I turned 21 I took on my first name. People used to call me another name – I took on my first name. Since I started being called Teremoana I’m representing my family. When you say ‘Me’, I’m representing my whole family, so I carry that with pride, and what better way to put our family name on the world stage, and become world champion?

“When I was younger I didn’t want to box. I had my own plans. I’m a qualified plumber – I was going to start my own business. Things happening – my grandfather passed away – I want to represent him and my family. His name’s Teremoana – I’m named after him. This is the main switch – once [I took] my first name, I’m representing my family. I had to do something with it, and I chose boxing.

“We’ve only seen 90 seconds of footage [of Otobo]. But I’m well prepared for this fight. I’ve been in with the best in the world; I’m not taking this fight lightly; I don’t take any fights lightly. I’ve got to worry about him; he’s got to worry about me. When I step in the ring I’ll have a feel for him and we’ll go from there.

“You’ve got to respect every opponent – especially the heavyweights. You don’t even have to be that great, but if you land one punch it’s game over. All respect to him – we’ll get the job done, no doubt.

“Obviously I’ve got to learn my craft, but if you were to put me in with [Oleksandr] Usyk, Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, I believe I’ll take them out too. This game, it’s a fight. Anyone can win. It’s a fight – and I go in with that mentality. I can take anyone out. You’ve got to give everyone respect, but whoever they put someone in front of me, I’m going to take out.”